Steiger 1250
Built: 1963–1969 · Series: Barn
More machines from model year 1963
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Steiger Barn (Red Lake Falls, Minnesota) – the articulated tractors built in the Steiger brothers' farm barn before the company was founded in 1969: 1200 to 3300, Detroit Diesel, 87 to 241 kW
The Steiger Barn machines are the first off-road-capable articulated tractors that brothers Douglass and Maurice Steiger built from 1957 in the barn of their farm near Red Lake Falls, Minnesota, for their own arable operation, because commercially available two-wheel-drive tractors could not cope with the heavy soil of the Red River Valley. Neighbours' interest in similar machines grew over the following years to the point that the brothers moved into commercial manufacture in 1969 as Steiger Tractor, Inc. in Fargo, North Dakota; the Barn machines thus form the precursor to the later Steiger ranges named after big cats. The engines of the recorded models are all diesel, one of them listed in the register as a Detroit Diesel.
Read on 3 more paragraphs
The register lists 6 versions with 87 to 241 kW (118 to 328 hp) from four- to eight-cylinder diesels of up to 14,800 cm³ at 2,300 to 2,800 rpm and unladen weights of about 6,250 to 14,000 kg.
The Barn tractors stand at the start of the history of large articulated tractors in North America; from the demand of Red River Valley farmers grew Steiger Tractor as an independent manufacturer, whose later models were also built under contract for International Harvester, Ford and Case, before Case IH took over the company in 1986.
On these home-built machines, the engine and turbocharger of the two-stroke Detroit Diesel, the articulation joint with its hydraulic cylinders and pivots, four-wheel drive and differentials, clutch and gearbox, and frame and tyres count; as collector's pieces of Steiger's early history, parts supply is correspondingly limited.
Sources: SpecCodex register, model data: Steiger Barn
Technical data
Engine
| Fuel | dieselcorrect |
|---|---|
| Power | 130 hp (96 kW)correct |
| Rated speed | 2,300 rpmcorrect |
| Cylinders | 4correct |
| Displacement | 3,500 cm³correct |
| Cooling | water-cooledcorrect |
Dimensions and weights
| Unladen weight | 6,250 kgcorrect |
|---|
Drivetrain and chassis
| Gearbox | 12 Gang Schaltungcorrect |
|---|---|
| Top speed | 27.4 km/hcorrect |
Origin and approval
| Construction | articulated framecorrect |
|---|---|
| Units built | <126correct |
Where this model stands
Power-to-weight ratio: 15.4 kW/t (96 kW / 6.2 t)
Power class: Large (100–180 hp)
Stronger than 77% of the tractors in the register — out of 15,663 models with a stated power figure.
Calculated from the documented figures above — not a rating.
Frequently asked questions
How much power does the Steiger 1250 have?
The Steiger 1250 delivers 130 hp.
How much does the Steiger 1250 weigh?
The unladen weight is 6,250 kg.
What engine does the Steiger 1250 have?
4 cylinders, 3,500 cm³ displacement, Diesel.
How fast does the Steiger 1250 go?
Top speed is 27.4 km/h.
When was the Steiger 1250 built?
Production years: 1963–1969.
What to check before buying
- Check the hour meter against the service records — a replaced instrument is the most common gap.
- Compare the data plate and chassis number with the papers.
- Check the weights in the papers against the figures here — attachments change them.
- Shift the gearbox cold and warm — jumps only show up at temperature.
- Load the hydraulics and watch for sag.
- Ask about parts availability for this build year — the running costs hang on it.
A general list for this type of machine — no substitute for an inspection or an appraiser.
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This page carries 13 individual figures for this model. They come from 1 recorded source; every figure can be traced there. What we cannot document is not here — we leave gaps open rather than estimate them.
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Other models in this series
Sources: [1]
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